System and method for dynamically determining a force applied through a rail vehicle axle

Abstract

A system is provided for dynamically determining a force applied through a plurality of axles in a rail vehicle configured to travel along a rail track in a travel direction. The rail vehicle includes a plurality of wheels received by the plurality of axles. The system includes a controller configured to determine a respective dynamic weight shift of the plurality of wheels on the rail track based upon a dynamic factor of the rail vehicle as the rail vehicle travels along the rail track.

1 . A system for dynamically determining a force applied through a plurality of axles in a rail vehicle configured to travel along a rail track in a travel direction, said rail vehicle having a plurality of wheels, said plurality of wheels being received by said plurality of axles, said system comprising:
 a controller configured to determine a respective dynamic weight shift of said plurality of wheels on said rail track based upon a dynamic factor of said rail vehicle as said rail vehicle travels along said rail track.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said rail vehicle is a locomotive, said force is a normal force applied through said at least one axle in a normal direction to said rail track, said controller is configured to receive at least one characteristic of said locomotive to determine a static weight of said plurality of axles on said rail track when said locomotive is stationary, said controller is further configured to determine a respective dynamic weight of said plurality of wheels on said rail track based upon said static weight of said plurality of wheels and said dynamic factor of said locomotive as said locomotive travels along said rail track. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 at least one sensor coupled to said controller, said at least one sensor configured to measure said dynamic factor of said locomotive when said locomotive is in motion along said rail track.   
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said dynamic factor is a speed of said locomotive, said sensor is configured to measure said locomotive speed. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said dynamic factor is a tractive effort of a respective locomotive axle attributed to a torque applied to a traction motor of said respective locomotive axle, said sensor is configured to measure said respective tractive effort of said respective locomotive axle. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said dynamic factor is a level of fuel within a fuel tank of said locomotive, one of said sensor and a fuel level algorithm is configured to measure said fuel level within said fuel tank. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said dynamic factor is a brake cylinder pressure applied to said axle during a braking mode. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said dynamic factor is a drawbar force exerted on a drawbar coupling said locomotive to one of an adjacent locomotive and an adjacent train car. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a device coupled to at least one respective axle of said plurality of axles, said device being coupled to said controller to selectively impart said normal force through said respective axle.   
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one sensor is respectively coupled to said respective axle, said at least one sensor is configured to measure one of said normal force and an incremental force applied by said device imparted through said respective axle, said at least one sensor is configured to communicate one of said normal force and incremental force to said controller. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said device is one of a hydraulic actuator, a pneumatic actuator, an electro magnetic actuator, a mechanical actuator, a motor-driven actuator, and a manually operated actuator configured to selectively impart one of said normal force through said respective axle in a direction away from said rail and said normal force through said respective axle in a direction toward said rail, said normal force being based upon at least one dynamic characteristic of one of said hydraulic actuator, pneumatic actuator, electro magnetic actuator, mechanical actuator, motor-driven actuator, and manually operated actuator. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said sensor is coupled to one of said hydraulic actuator and pneumatic actuator to measure said at least one dynamic characteristic of one of said hydraulic actuator and pneumatic actuator, said dynamic characteristic being one of a position of one of said hydraulic actuator and pneumatic actuator, and an applied pressure to one of said hydraulic actuator and pneumatic actuator. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a grade sensor coupled to said locomotive and said controller, said grade sensor configured to determine at least one grade factor of said locomotive when said locomotive is stationary, said controller is configured to receive said at least one grade factor to determine said static weight of said plurality of wheels on said rail.   
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said device is one of a hydraulic actuator, a pneumatic actuator, an electro magnetic actuator, a mechanical actuator, a motor-driven actuator, and a manually operated actuator;
 said controller is configured to determine a respective target weight of said plurality of wheels on said rail, said respective dynamic weight of said plurality of wheels on said rail to be modified to said respective target weight, said respective target weight being based upon said respective dynamic weight of said plurality of wheels on said rail and a respective weight limit for said respective plurality of axles.   
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said controller is configured to compare said respective target weight of said plurality of wheels on said rail with said respective dynamic weight of said plurality of wheels on said rail, said controller being configured to determine at least one respective command to one of said hydraulic actuator, pneumatic actuator, electro magnetic actuator, mechanical actuator, motor-driven actuator, and manually operated actuator. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said controller is configured to communicate said at least one respective command to one of said hydraulic actuator, pneumatic actuator, electro magnetic actuator, mechanical actuator, motor-driven actuator, and manually operated actuator, one of said hydraulic actuator, pneumatic actuator, electro magnetic actuator, mechanical actuator, motor-driven actuator, and manually operated actuator being configured to impart one of said normal force in a direction away from said rail and said normal force in a direction toward said rail through said respective axle responsive to said at least one command such that said respective dynamic weight of said plurality of wheels on said rail is modified to said respective target weight of said plurality of wheels on said rail. 
   
   
       17 . A system for dynamically determining a force applied through a plurality of axles in a rail vehicle configured to travel along a rail track in a travel direction, said rail vehicle having a plurality of wheels, said plurality of wheels being received by said plurality of axles, said system comprising:
 a controller, said controller configured to receive at least one of a rail track condition, a rail vehicle operating condition, an operator input, and a geographical input of a location along said rail track;   said controller is configured to determine a respective dynamic weight command of said plurality of axles on said rail track to dynamically shift a respective weight of said plurality of axles on said rail track based upon said at least one a rail track condition, a rail vehicle operating condition, an operator input, and a geographical input of a location along said rail track.   
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said rail vehicle is a locomotive, said locomotive operating condition is a locomotive speed traveling along said rail track. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein upon said locomotive speed falling below a low speed threshold, said dynamic weight command is configured to increase the respective weight of said plurality of axles. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said rail vehicle is a locomotive, said locomotive operating condition is a notch level of a throttle of said locomotive indicative of a locomotive power output. 
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said rail vehicle is a locomotive, said locomotive operating condition is a level of tractive effort of said locomotive. 
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said rail vehicle is a locomotive, said locomotive operating condition is a creep factor of said plurality of wheels indicative of one of a slipping condition and non-slipping condition of one of said plurality of wheels. 
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said rail vehicle is a locomotive, said locomotive operating condition is a level of fuel within a fuel tank of said locomotive. 
   
   
       24 . A method for dynamically determining a force applied through a plurality of axles in a rail vehicle configured to travel along a rail track in a travel direction, said rail vehicle having a plurality of wheels, said plurality of wheels being received by said plurality of axles, said method comprising:
 configuring a controller to receive at least one characteristic of said rail vehicle;   determining a static weight of said plurality of axles on said rail track when said rail vehicle is stationary; and   configuring said controller to determine a respective dynamic weight of said plurality of wheels on said rail track based upon said static weight of said plurality of wheels and a dynamic factor of said rail vehicle as said rail vehicle travels along said rail track.   
   
   
       25 . Computer readable media containing program instructions for dynamically determining a force applied through a plurality of axles in a rail vehicle configured to travel along a rail track in a travel direction, said rail vehicle having a plurality of wheels, said plurality of wheels being received by said plurality of axles, said computer readable media comprising:
 a computer program code for determining a static weight of said plurality of axles on said rail track when said rail vehicle is stationary; and   a computer program code for determining a respective dynamic weight of said plurality of wheels on said rail track based upon said static weight of said plurality of axles and a dynamic factor of said rail vehicle as said rail vehicle travels along said rail track.